Act the Fifth
Scene I
Thais and Pythias.
Thais. Still, still, you, baggage, will you shuffle with me?
—“I know—I don’t know—he’s gone off—I’ve heard——
I was not present”—Be it what it may,
Can’t you inform me openly?—The Virgin,
Her clothes all torn, in sullen silence weeps.
The Eunuch’s fled.—What means all this? and what
Has happen’d?—Won’t you answer me?
Pyth. Alas!
What can I answer you?—He was, they say,
No Eunuch.
Thais. What then?
Pyth. Chærea.
Thais. Chærea!
What Chærea?
Pyth. Phædria’s younger brother.
Thais. How!
What’s that, hag?
Pyth. I’ve discover’d it: I’m sure on’t.
Thais. Why, what had he to do with us? or why
Was he brought hither?
Pyth. That I can not tell;
Unless, as I suppose, for love of Pamphila.
Thais. Alas! I am undone; undone, indeed,
If that, which you have told me now, be true.
Is’t that the girl bemoans thus?
Pyth. I believe so.
Thais. How, careless wretch! was that the charge I gave you
At my departure?
Pyth. What could I do? She
Was trusted, as you bade, to him alone.
Thais. Oh, jade, you set the wolf to keep the sheep
—I’m quite asham’d to ’ve been so poorly bubbled.
Pyth. Who comes here?—Hist! peace, madam, I beseech you!
We’re safe: we have the very man.
Seeing Chærea at a distance.
Thais. Where is he?
Pyth. Here, on the left; d’ye see him, ma’am?
Thais. I see him.
Pyth. Let him be seiz’d immediately!
Thais. And what
Can we do to him, fool?
Pyth. Do to him, say you?
—See, what a saucy face the rogue has got!
Ha’nt he?—and then how settled an assurance?